Video: Rep. Gerry Connolly – “It can’t be true that somebody on the terrorist watch list” Still Allowed to Buy a Gun

Strong speech this morning on the House floor by Rep. Gerry Connolly, who has shown consistent leadership on the issue of reining in gun violence in America.

I rise, Mr. Speaker, more in sadness than in anger.

This debate has gone on long enough. Too many of our fellow Americans have been victimized by gun violence because we’re in thrall to the gun lobby. Who do we serve in this body if it isn’t the American people?

It is a sacred responsibility of every member of this body to protect that public, not a special interest lobby. Are we ever going to be willing to put aside what we perceive we owe that lobby and act on the behalf of the American people? And, if we can’t do it in this example—preventing guns from getting in the hands of people on a terrorist watch list —I would venture to guess, Mr. Speaker, that the American people watching this debate think it’s made up; it can’t be true. It can’t be true that somebody on the terrorist watch list qualifies and is going to be protected, by this body, to exercise their Second Amendment right and buy a gun. Surely that cannot be true.

I hope we examine our hearts as well as our minds in this discussion, and come to our senses and do something vitally important for the American people.